LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2026, Page 3

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Welcome and Greetings from Pacific Southwest District

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The chair recognized the Rev. Dr. Michael Gibson, President, Pacific Southwest District, to welcome delegates to
Phoenix and to his district. He described the demographics of his district’s mission field—including as many people
as the areas of twelve other districts—and his district’s resourcing the congregations, schools, agencies, and individual
members of the district. He noted the importance of schools in his district at all levels—including some of the Synod’s
largest, and the largest Lutheran school in America, in Las Vegas—and the number of baptisms that result from their
outreach. He noted with gratefulness over 3,000 workers—and that this year 50 students from the district are preparing
for the pastoral ministry in the Synod’s various routes. He noted also the ministry of Concordia University Irvine in
the district and beyond.

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Convention Essay: “Christ is the Truth”

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[The entire text of the essay by the Rev. Dr. Jon S. Bruss, president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort
Wayne, and the response by the Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray, Third Vice-President, will be printed in the 2026 Convention
Proceedings.]

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Presentation—All Nations Ministry

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With Second Vice-President (Central Region) Benjamin Ball assuming the chair, the Rev. Stephen Heimer,
manager of All Nations Ministry for the Office of National Mission, after an introductory video, delivered a
presentation on the ministry area formed in 2024 to support those serving in Asian, Black, Hispanic, Native American,
and other ethnic ministries around the United States. After comments noting that people are coming to faith and
wanting to be part of the Lutheran Church, he introduced a number of individuals, some representing organizations,
involved in “All Nations” ministry and the related council fostered by the Office of National Mission. The activity is
a “connecting point and encourager” for ministry to, with, and as all ethnicities and languages—and so are the body
of Christ, and part of God’s Mission Here.

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Committee 1: National Witness

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The chair recognized Chairman Eric C. Johnson, president, Southern District, to begin the report of his committee,
the floor committee chairman noting that only the resolves would be read.

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Res. 1-01A, “To Celebrate and Encourage All Nations Ministry in North America” (TB, 2B:269–70), was read and
introduced by the committee after changes from the original version were summarized.

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It was moved and seconded to amend by adding a resolve after line 9 to read “Resolved, That ONM work with
districts to focus on placing missionaries in ethnic ministries as new mission starts.” The amendment was adopted
[Yes: 737; No: 126].

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Without further debate, the resolution as amended was adopted [Yes: 843; No: 40] and the convention sang as
resolved.

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Res. 1-02, “To Proclaim 2029 the 500th Year of Luther’s Catechisms” (TB, 1:58–59), was read and introduced by
the committee, Chairman Johnson noting that funding has in large measure been obtained for the work proposed.

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It was moved and seconded to amend by inserting a resolve on line 58 after line 41: “Resolved, That the Synod in
convention direct CPH to add the Large Catechism to existing digital resources.” In response to a question, the maker
of the amendment clarified that he was intending inclusion of the resource on catechism.cph.org. After debate, the
amendment was adopted [Yes: 499; No: 383]. It was moved and seconded to call the question; this prevailed [Yes:
809; No: 76]. The resolution as amended was adopted [Yes: 757; No: 136] and the convention sang as resolved.

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Res. 1-03A, “To Give Thanks to God for 150 Years of Black Ministry” (TB, 2B:270–71), was read and introduced
by the committee after changes from the original version were summarized. Debate having been exhausted, the
resolution was adopted [Yes: 825; No: 61].

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2026 Convention Minutes — Sessions 1 and 2 — Page 3